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flag  History of Brunswick, Maine, USA

Journey back in time to Brunswick, Maine, USA

Visit Brunswick, Maine, USA. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and ancestry.

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Brunswick, Maine, USA - Brunswick, Maine around 1865

Brunswick, Cumberland, Maine, USA

In 1714, a consortium from Boston and Portsmouth bought the land, thereafter called the Pejepscot Purchase. The Massachusetts General Court constituted the township in 1717, naming it Brunswick in honor of the House of Brunswick and its scion, King George I.

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There is MUCH more to discover about Brunswick, Maine, USA. Read on!

Brunswick Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards


Brunswick, Maine, USA

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Brunswick, Maine around 1865

Brunswick, Maine, USA

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Walker Art Building, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me.

Brunswick, Maine, USA

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Whitmore House, Brunswick, Me.

Brunswick, Maine, USA

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Main Street, looking North

Brunswick, Maine, USA

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View from Bay View Farm, Pennellville, Brunswick, Maine

Brunswick, Maine, USA

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Merrymeeting Park Casino

Brunswick, Maine, USA

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Main Street

Brunswick, Maine, USA

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Main Street, Business Section

Brunswick, Maine, USA

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Pastime Theater and Motor Mart

Discover Brunswick: History, News, Travel, and Stories

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  • News  1700's - A Baby's Adventure
    In the year 1819,died in the town of Greene, Me., an old man named Thomas, who had a thrilling wolf-story of his own to tell, though the experience was too early for his memory, he being at the time a baby in arms. Mr. George J. Varney relates the adventure in the Lewiston Journal. Mrs. Thomas was a fisherman's wife who lived in the town of Brunswick, Me., where Bowdoin College now stands. At one time when her husband was in port, but could not come home, she started on foot to Harpswell, a distance of ten miles, to see him, carrying her youngest child in her arms. Returning, with a load of fish on her back as well as the burden of her babe, she heard a wolf howl in the forest, and terror quickened her pace, though she was already fain to sink with fatigue.

    She was midway of the five miles of unbroken woods when the howl of the wolf again smote her ear, and this time other voices, one after another, joined in. The pack had gathered on her trail!

    She must climb a tree, one would... Read MORE...

  • 1753 - Dam built between Brunswick and Topsham
    The first dam between Brunswick and Topsham was completed about 1753, as the area had a growth spurt. Though only about 19 houses existed in 1742, by 1753 records show 80 males eligible to vote, an number that grew to 92 four years later.
    http://maineanencyclopedia.com/brunswick/
  • 1839 - Brunswick
    Brunswick, Maine
    Cumberland county. This town is on the S. side of Androscoggin river, and connected with Topsham by a substantial bridge. It is 27 miles N.E. from Portland, 30 S. of Augusta, and S.W. from Bath. Population, in 1830, 3,747; and in 1837, 4,136. It lies at the head of the tide waters, where vessels of 400 tons are built. Vast quantities of timber and logs descend the Androscoggin to this place, and lumber of all kinds is sent to Bath in gondolas, or transported by land to the sea board. A rail-road, of about 4 miles in length, is contemplated, for the transportation of lumber. There are 30 board saw mills at this place, exclusive of those in Topsham. Two cotton and woolen factories were erected here, but they were both burnt in 1824. Another factory was built in 1834, calculated for 4,000 spindles. It is of stone, five stories high, and 174 by 45 feet. Other factories are contemplated. This place, possessing such an exhaustless water power, and situated on navigable... Read MORE...

  • 1854 - Brunswick
    Brunswick, a post-township of Cumberland county, Maine, on the right bank of the Androscoggin river, 5 or 6 miles from its junction with the Kennebeck. Population, 4927.

    Brunswick, a post-village in the above township, pleasantly situated on the S. side of the Androscoggin river, 27 miles by rail road N. E. from Portland ; 33 miles S. from Augusta, and 132 miles N. E. from Boston. The Androscoggin is navigable to what is called the lower falls, opposite this place. These falls afford extensive water-power. Vast quantities of logs are annually rafted down the river to be sawn into boards and timber at the numerous mills that are here in operation. On an elevated plain, at the extremity of the village, stands Bowdoin College, a well-endowed institution, enjoying a high reputation. See Table of Colleges in the Appendix. The village has 2 banks.
    A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.
  • 1859
    BRUNSWICK, a township of Cumberland, co., in the state of Maine, 80 m. SW of Augusta, and 7 m. W of Bath, on the S side of the Adroscoggin, opposite Topsham, with which it is connected by a bridge. Pop. 4,259. It is celebrated for its college, founded in 1794.
    A Gazetteer of the World: Or, Dictionary of Geographical Knowledge, Publisher A. Fullarton, 1859
  • 1863 - Civil War Hero
    Brunswick native, Joshua Chamberlain successfully defended Little Round Top against confederate troops at the Battle of Gettysburg in the Civil War. Chamberlain's actions arguably served as the turning point of that battle.

    www.e-referencedesk.com/ resources/state-history-timeline/ maine.html
  • 1886 - Brunswick
    Brunswick is the most easterly town of Cumberland. County. On the south it Is bounded by bodies of water connected with Casco Bay. On this side lies Harpswell, connected with Brunswick by a bridge and a neck of land scarcely more than fifty rods in width. On the east lies West Bath, in Sagadahoc County, separated from Brunswick by New Meadows River. The Androscoggin River, in the form of a bent bow, separates Brunswick from Topsham, in Sagadahoc County. Freeport lies on the west, and Durham, in Androscoggin County, on the north-west. In the southern part of the town are several good havens for vessels, of which are Maquoit and Middle bays. The Androscoggin soon after passing the falls in this town broadens and becomes navigable for vessels. Many of these have been built at Brunswick in the Narrows, and more in Topsharn, on the opposite bank of the river. This stream is spanned by two elegant iron bridges, one of which is for steam cars. There is also a wooden bridge for both teams and ... Read MORE...

  • 1889 - Brunswick
    BRUNSWICK is an ideal town in New England, alike charming for its natural beauty and its quiet air of refinement. A subtle aroma of culture seems to pervade its streets and buildings and give peculiar dignity to its people. Whether it was peculiarly fitted for a college town, or has been transformed into Marrnony with the scholarly, academic spirit, it would not be easy to decide; but no one can escape the power of its beauty and charm. The history of Brunswick has been carefully studied and compiled by able men, so that its historical archives are unusually full. Its colonial history extends back to the very earliest activities of the English in this part of the new world. Thomas Purchase, an energetic pioneer and trader with the Indians had established himself here as early as 1628. His fame spread throughout the growing band of Englishmen along the Atlantic coast of New England, and in 1632 he was joined by George Way. These two obtained a patent from the Plymouth Company in... Read MORE...

  • 1895 - Brunswick
    Brunswick, a post-village in Brunswick township, Cumberland co., Me., is on the right bank of the Androscoggin River, at the head of navigation, 29 miles N.E. of Portland, 9 miles W. of Bath, and about 6 miles N. of Casco Bay. It is on the Maine Central Railroad, at the junction of the Bath Branch, and also of the Farmington Branch which connects it with Lewiston and Farmington. A bridge across the river connects it with Topsham. The falls or rapids of the river here afford abundant water-power. Brunswick has 3 national banks, 2 savings-banks, a cotton mill, a paper-mill, and several other mills and factories. One weekly newspaper is published here. This is the site of Bowdoin College (Congregational), which was founded in 1798 and has 15 resident professors and a library of 35,000 volumes. The Maine Medical School is affiliated to this college. The township contains 9 churches. Pop. of the village about 3000; of the township in 1890, 6012.
    Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott
  • News  1907 - AWFUL EXPLOSION KILLS TWO AND INJURES MANY. PRETTY LITTLE RAILROAD STATION IN BRUNSWICK WRECKED BY BOILER EXPLOSION.
    The handsome little station of the Maine Central railroad at Brunswick, was badly demolished at midnight Saturday by an explosion, caused by the blowing up of one portion of the steam heating plant. Two people were killed and several others injured, while the damage to the building will amount to nearly $5000.

    The dead are WILLIAM B. WOODWARD, custodian of the building and night baggagemaster and WALTER W. HARRIS, a night car inspector. The injured are EDMUND TARRIER, a coal heaver, who had a thigh broken; FRED SYLVESTER, American express employe, cut by flying glass and wrist broken; CLINTON J. BAILEY, nervous shock; MRS. BAILEY, foot badly bruised by falling tiling.

    The accident happened a few minutes after the night train for Portland had pulled out of the station and the east bound had been gone about ten minutes. The usual Saturday night crowd which is always to be found on the station platform had disappeared and only the Bath and Lewiston trains were left standing, both... Read MORE...

  • 1916
    Brunswick, a post-village of Brunswick township (town), Cumberland co., Me., is on the right bank of the Androscoggin River, at the head of navigation, 29 miles NE. of Portland and 9 miles W. of Bath. It is on the Maine Central R. A bridge across the river connects it with Topsham. The falls or rapids of the river here afford abundant water-power. Brunswick has cotton- and paper-mills and various other manufactories. It is the site of Bowdoin College (Congregational), which was founded in 1794 and has a library of 80,000 volumes. The Maine Medical School is Affiliated with this college. The village also contains the Walker Art Building. Pop. in 1900, 2321 ; of the town, 6806.
    Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher
  • 1994 - Independent Governor
    Brunswick resident Angus King becomes only the second popularly elected independent governor in United States history.

    www.e-referencedesk.com/ resources/state-history-timeline/ maine.html



Discover Your Roots: Brunswick Ancestry

Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Brunswick, Maine, USA

We currently have information about ancestors who were born or died in Brunswick.

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male ancestorJohn DRISCO (28 December 1686, Wells, Maine, USA - 1734, Brunswick, Maine, USA)
male ancestorNathaniel GETCHELL (17 May 1778, Brunswick, Maine, USA - 12 January 1855, Wales, Maine, USA)
male ancestorCharles Harry HALL (1810, Portland, Maine, USA (Deering) - 1 November 1876, Brunswick, Maine, USA)
female ancestorLavinia S. ROFIELD (1814, Brunswick, Maine, USA - 12 August 1886, Melrose, Massachusetts, USA)
male ancestorAndrew J. BEAN (1816, - 15 August 1884, Brunswick, Maine, USA)
female ancestorMatilda W KEENEN (1821, Monmouth, Maine, USA - 28 March 1907, Brunswick, Maine, USA)
male ancestorJohn Cushman HARMON (18 March 1828, Brunswick, Maine, USA - 4 August 1854, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA)
male ancestorJohn HANNAFORD (1830, - 24 July 1857, Brunswick, Maine, USA)
photo of Joseph Alfred BENOITJoseph Alfred BENOIT (26 August 1837, Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu, Québec, Canada - 10 May 1927, Brunswick, Maine, USA)

Ancestors Who Were Married in Brunswick, Maine, USA

We currently have information about ancestors who were married in Brunswick.

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male ancestorDavid Moulton FRENCH (21 May 1821 - 24 June 1871) and female ancestorMatilda W KEENEN (1821 - 28 March 1907) married 20 October 1844
male ancestorElbridge G LIBBY (16 January 1825 - 8 June 1910) and female ancestorMartha Vaughn GETCHELL (3 September 1820 - 17 February 1901) married 9 June 1850
male ancestorSamuel William FRENCH (30 August 1850 - 25 June 1916) and female ancestorCelia Ann EDWARDS (10 May 1853 - 17 February 1933) married 5 October 1878
male ancestorWilliam H DAVIS (24 April 1872 - November 1953) and female ancestorErnestine FRENCH (23 October 1876 - 16 February 1924) married 21 January 1892
male ancestorMyron Ellery BRACY (February 10, 1888 - July 22, 1962) and female ancestorWinifred Faye GROSS (July 5, 1892 - May 5, 1961) married 14 October 1911
male ancestorWinfield Howard DAVIS (10 May 1895 - 26 December 1966) and female ancestorHazel Evelyn COLLINS (7 July 1898 - 3 January 1945) married 6 December 1915
male ancestorButler Hillman PRATT (19 November 1898 - 11 November 1984) and female ancestorWilma Orvilla JONES (3 October 1897 - 18 November 1991) married 24 November 1921
male ancestorBenjamin Weber MOODY (7 April 1902 - 11 December 1959) and female ancestorEdith Gertrude GILLIAM (1 June 1907 - 25 December 1975) married 6 November 1924
male ancestorGeorge Herbert COLLINS (17 November 1873 - aft. 1930) and female ancestorCelia Ann EDWARDS (10 May 1853 - 17 February 1933) married 3 September 1927
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Updated: 8/9/2023 12:06:24 AM

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